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The South African Department of Home Affairs has extended its visa concession for pending applications until 30 September 2025. This decision helps visa holders awaiting waivers, appeals, or long-term visa approvals remain legally in the country without penalties.
For international travellers and visa holders awaiting outcomes on their South African applications, there’s a significant update. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in South Africa has announced an extension to the concession allowing individuals to remain in South Africa despite pending visa renewals, appeals, and long-term visa applications.
Originally set to expire on March 31, 2025, the deadline has now been pushed to September 30, 2025. This move brings much-needed relief to many navigating the complexities of South African immigration.
What This Means for Visa Holders
This extension benefits foreign nationals who have legally submitted applications for waivers, appeals, or long-term visas but are still awaiting a decision. The key takeaways from the announcement include:
• Visa holders can legally stay in South Africa until 30 September 2025 without facing penalties.
• Eligible individuals may exit and re-enter South Africa under specific conditions up to the same date.
• The decision addresses delays in visa processing, including printing errors affecting many applicants.
Why Was the Extension Granted?
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, acknowledged that a significant number of applications remain unprocessed due to technical and administrative delays.
To prevent valid visa holders from being classified as undesirable due to overstays, the government has opted to extend the deadline.
The visa backlog issue has been a long-standing challenge for South Africa, leading to multiple extensions of this concession since it was first introduced in September 2022.
Who Benefits from This Concession?
The extension applies to:
• Applicants awaiting waivers, appeals, or long-term visa approvals submitted before 18 December 2024.
• Foreign nationals currently residing in South Africa who have legally submitted pending visa applications.
• Travellers needing to exit and return to South Africa without invalidating their pending applications.
Visa Overstay Rules & Undesirability Risk
South Africa’s Immigration Act sets clear limits on visa durations:
• Tourist and visitor visas are typically valid for 30 to 90 days, extendable up to 180 days.
• Overstaying beyond the allowed period leads to an undesirable status, which can result in entry bans.
By extending the concession, the government aims to protect visa holders from facing deportation or legal penalties due to administrative delays.
Future of Visa Processing in South Africa
Since assuming office in June 2024, Minister Leon Schreiber has prioritized reducing visa processing backlogs and modernizing immigration services.
• The DHA has made notable progress in clearing backlogged applications.
• The government is embracing technological solutions to improve efficiency.
• More reforms are expected to enhance the visa regime and attract skilled foreign professionals to South Africa.
Conclusion
The latest visa concession extension provides relief to thousands of visa holders awaiting decisions on their applications. With an extended stay until 30 September 2025, foreign nationals can continue their activities without fear of being penalized for overstaying.
For travellers and expats in South Africa, staying updated on immigration policies is crucial. Future announcements on visa processing improvements and new immigration policies may further shape the country’s approach to handling foreign professionals and long-term visitors.
Source: https://travelobiz.com/south-africa-visa-concession-extension-2025/
